Garbage cans



Oct. 23, 1962 E. J. HILL 3,059,807

GARBAGE CANS Filed March 7, 1960 United States Patent O 3,059,807 GARBAGE CANS Edward J. Hill, Wayne, Ill. Filed Mar. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 12,988 1 Claim. (Cl. 220-31) The present invention relates to garbage cans, and is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved garbage can locking structure by means of which the cover may be positively locked on the garbage can in such manner that the cover cannot be blown off or knocked off by dogs, but is positively held in locked condition, preventing access to the contents by dogs or other animals and preventing the dumping of the contents, even though the can be turned over.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved garbage can structure including a cover which is pivotally mounted and secured at one side on the top of the can in such manner that the cover may be removed; but it may also be securely locked by means of a latch arranged on the other side of the cover.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved garbage can cover lock which is simple in construction, which has a minimum number of parts, which is adapted to be used for a long period of time Without repair or replacement of parts, and which may be manufactured at a very low cost.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved garbage can cover lock adapted to be applied to the top of the cover in position to engage below the rim or bead which is on the upper edge of the can, and which has a latching member adapted to penetrate the depending flange on the cover so as to engage immediately below the bead or the rim of the garbage can.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved hinge structure for garbage can covers which is adjustable to the use of covers having depending rims of diflerent width, since the width of the flange on a garbage can cover may vary.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved garbage can cover lock which nests with the adjacent structure of the cover when it is locked so that there are no protruding parts which are adapted to engage on the clothing or other articles and so that the lock is securely held in locked condition until it is purposely opened by the user.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved garbage can structure which can be unlocked, removed, replaced and locked with one hand.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings accompanying this specification,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a garbage can assembly equipped with hinges and a lock embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cover and lock, taken from the right of FIG. 1, with the lock in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the can in section and the cover as seen from the bottom or oppo site side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view in partial section showing the pivot bracket and lock applied to a cover and garbage can, with the lock in the closed position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side of elevational view in partial section, taken from the right of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line 66 of FIG. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of one of the hinge members, taken from the bottom of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective of one of the hinge brackets;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken through the hinge side of the garbage can and cover, showing a modification of the hinge formation.

Referring to FIGS. l3, 10 indicates a garbage can which is provided with a cover 11 having one or more pivot formations 12, 13 at one side of the cover and a locking member 14 at the opposite side of the cover.

The cover is preferably provided with a U shaped handle 15 having attaching flanges 16 welded to the cover; and the handle is preferably centrally located so that when the cover is locked on the can, the entire assembly may be conveniently lifted by means of the cover handle 15.

Such covers are preferably provided with an offset annular reinforcing flange l7 and with a horizontal flange l3 integrally attached to the annular flange 19 engaging outside the can and provided with a reinforcing circular head 20.

The can to which the present cover is applied is preferably of the type having a cylindrical side wall 21 terminating at the top in a relatively large circular head 22 projecting outwardly and providing a locking shoulder 23 on the lower side of the head 22.

The pivot formations I2, 13 may be in the form of adjustable pivot brackets 24 of the type shown in FIG. 8. Such pivot brackets are of an open U-shape, having a vertical flange 25 joined to a second diverging flange 26 by a U-shaped formation 27. These flanges are provided with elongated apertures 28 and 29 for passing a screw bolt 30, which secures the pivot bracket on the cover.

The angle flange 25 preferably has a right angle flange 30 at its upper end for engaging the outside of the depending cover flange 19, which also has a hole 31 for passing the bolt 30.

The shorter pivot flange 26 preferably has an angular flange 32 at its upper end, forming a sharp corner at 33 for engaging below the bead 22. The pivot: members 12 and 13 are secured on one side of the cover spaced from each other by means of the bolt 36 and a nut 34 in each case.

When these pivot members are secured on the cover, the cover is adapted to be placed on the can by first moving the pivot members 12 and 13 under the bead 22, with the cover over the can, and then pivoting the cover downward on the pivot members 12 and 13 until it fits over the can 10 and its annular bead 22. This effectively secures the cover at one side.

In some embodiments of the invention the pivot members 12 and 13 may be replaced by a pair of inwardly pressed ribs 35 in the depending flange 19a of the cover, as shown in FIG. 9; and the ribs 35 act as pivot members and retaining members for the cover at one side. Two such ribs 35 are preferably provided.

The opposite side of the cover, that is, opposite to the pivot members 12 and 13, is provided with the movable locking member 14, which is preferably mounted on the cover upon a pivot bracket 36 (FIG. 4). This pivot bracket may comprise an angular or channelled metal member 36 having its body 37 provided with a pair of apertures 38, 39 for passing the screw bolts 40, 41, which may also pass through the cover, and are secured by means of nuts 42, 43 on the lower side of the cover.

The end 44 of the pivot bracket body 37 projects beyond the depending flange 19 of the cover and is provided with an aperture 45 for passing the pivot stud 46, which preferably has a reduced lower threaded portion 47, terminating at an .annular shoulder 48, thus establishing a definite length for the cylindrical portion 49 of the pivot stud adjacent the head 50.

A spring washer 51 is preferably mounted beneath the head; and the pivot stud 46 passes through the body 37 of the pivot bracket and through an aperture in the locking member 14, and is provided with a nut 52 on its lower end, thus pivotally mounting the locking member 14 with a spring washer interposed to provide friction for holding the locking member 14 in any adjusted position.

The locking member 14 is preferably of angular shape, having an upper flange 53 and a vertical flange 54 at right angles to each other; and these flanges are so arranged that the upper flange 53 passes over the top of the cover when the vertical flange 54 engages the depending flange 19 of the cover, thus permitting the locking member to practically nest with the cover in the locked position of FIG. 4.

The locking member may have a narrow portion 55 adjacent its pivot, a wider portion at 56 adjacent its locking lug 57, and a generally wider portion 58 at its end for engaging the palm of the hand in pressing the locking member into locking position. The locking lug 57 comprises a laterally inwardly turned integral portion of the lockin g member 14- located adjacent the pivot bolt 46 and having a sharp corner 59 on the side toward the pivot bolt 46.

In some embodiments of the invention the depending flange 19 of the cover may be provided with an aperture 60 for passing the locking ing 57; but the thickness of the metal used in such garbage cans is generally such that by exerting suflicient pressure upon the wide portion 54 of the locking member 14 the sharp corner 59 of locking lug 57 may be used to penetrate the depending flange 19 on the cover, making its own aperture and passing inward below the enlarged bead 22 on the can.

The straight end 61 of the locking lug 57 preferably engages the side of the can below the bead 22, thus providing a secure mode of locking the cover on the side by means of the locking member 14.

When the locking member 14 is pivoted counterclockwise in FIG. 4, the locking lug 57 moves out of its engagement with the lower side 23 of the head 22 and um locks the cover at this side. The locking member 14 may be moved into alignment with pivot bracket 36 after which it serves as a handle for pulling the cover off the can at that side or for forcing the cover down on the can.

In some embodiments of the invention the elongated holes 28 and 29 in the pivot bracket 24 of FIG. 8 may be made circular; but they are elongated, as shown, to provide a vertical adjustment of the pivot brackets 12 or 13 on the depending flange 19, as these flanges may be of different size on different cans.

In some embodiments of the invention the angular looking member 14 may be .curved to nest perfectly with the can cover.

The present locking mechanism is so safe .and positive that when the cover is locked the entire can may be lifted and carried by means of the cover handle 15. Thepresent structure may be applied to existing garbage cans; and it includes a minimum number of parts for locking the covers on garbage cans at a minimum expense.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A locking cover garbage can assembly comprising a garbage can cover of circular shape having 2. depending cylindrical flange and a garbage can of cylindrical shape provided at its upper open end with an outwardly turned circular bead, said cylindrical flange extending downward beyond said head when the cover is On the can, the said cover being provided on the inside of its depending flange with a pair of spaced U-shaped retaining members, each of said U-shaped retaining members having a pair of inwardly turned flanges at the ends of the legs of the U member, one of said inwardly turned flanges being substantially at right angles and adapted to engage outside said depending flange of the cover, the other of said inwardly turned flanges engaging the inside of said depending flange and being turned at an acute angle below the right angle flange and spaced therefrom to locate the acute angle inwardly turned flange with its sharp edge below the bead on the garbage can, the said U-shaped member having both of its legs provided with aligned apertures also aligned with an aperture in said depending flange on the cover, and a screw bolt extending through each of said U-shaped members and through the depending flange on the cover and provided with a nut drawing the U-shaped members in each case together and securing them to said depending flange in position for the acute flange to have its sharp edge engage below the bead on the can, and said cover supporting a locking member opposite to said two U-shaped members on the cover, said locking member being carried by an upwardly open channeled pivot bracket mounted on the cover and projecting beyond the edge of the garbage can, said locking member comprising a pivoted metal member having an upper flange, a vertical flange, and a locking lug, said locking member being pivotally mounted on a screw bolt and its locking lug being located to extend through an aperture in the depending flange on the cover, the locking lug engaging below the bead on the garbage can to lock the cover in place.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,856,877 Loeber May 3, 1932 2,220,319 Curtis Nov. 5, 1940 2,835,407 Chambers May 20, 1958 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 631,067 Germany Apr. 21, 1933 221,048 Australia Apr. 10, 1959 

